DAY 1 – Join trip in Reykjavik

Today the adventure begins with a transfer from Keflavik Airport (KEF) to our hotel on the public FlyBus shuttle bus service. On arrival at Keflavik Airport please proceed to the FlyBus desk which is located in the arrivals hall. A FlyBus representative will give you a voucher and direct you to the buses which leave every 35-40 minutes. The drive to the hotel will take approximately 45 minutes, via the main bus terminal where you may be asked to board a smaller bus for the final part of the journey to your hotel.b On the drive from the airport to the hotel you’ll get your first glimpse of the blackened and rocky volcanic scenery found on this part of the island.

There are no activities planned today so you are free to arrive at a time that suits you. After checking-in to the hotel, you may have time to explore a little of the world’s most northerly capital. Bustling with cosmopolitan energy and surrounded by pure, unpolluted nature, Reykjavik is a city of striking contrasts. On this holiday you’ll be accompanied by a local Leader from days 2 to 4, so this evening you are free to settle in and enjoy this charming city.

Travelling to Iceland in the winter months offers the best chance to see the incredible natural phenomena of the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. Short daylight hours mean additional hours of darkness to watch the skies in the hope of spotting the ethereal green lights dancing across the sky. The ‘lights’ are actually electrically charged particles, high up in the atmosphere which make the thinner air fluoresce. White and green are the most common colours to spot, but purples and reds are seen when the lights are forming at higher altitudes.

On this trip we’ll keep a close watch on the night skies in the hope of seeing the aurora. If you wish to capture the lights on camera you will need a tripod, or something to balance your camera on as a long exposure is needed. It is worth the effort though as the images captured by a camera are often far brighter than our eyes can see.

ACCOMMODATION:

Hotel Klettur (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

MEALS PROVIDED: NONE

DAY 2 – Visit Reykjavik city, Thingvellir National Park and Selfoss

This morning we will meet our Leader and spend the morning exploring Reykjavik. The city is a wonderful mix of traditional houses clad in corrugated iron and modern architecture. There are plenty of green spaces here but the highlight is walking along the waterfront. Fishing has long been Iceland’s main industry and watching the ships coming in and out of the harbour shows us the lifeblood of this small island nation.

A must-see for any visit to Reykjavik is Hallgrimskirkja, the Lutheran church that can be seen throughout the city. The dramatic design resembles the basalt columns we’ll see later on at Vik I Myrdal beach.

After exploring the city, we will visit Thingvellir National Park, a rare site of both historical and geological importance. Meaning ‘Parliament Plains’, this was the location of Iceland’s first National Assembly for 800 years from 930AD and as such, is hugely significant in the country’s cultural heritage. The impressive landscape sits on a unique spot where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge can be seen on dry land before disappearing to the ocean floor. This provides the quirky opportunity to place one foot on the North American tectonic plate and one foot on the Eurasian plate.

We will then drive to our hotel, far away from any light pollution which will maximise the chance of a good sighting of the aurora.

ACCOMMODATION:

Hotel Gullfoss (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

MEALS PROVIDED: BREAKFAST

DAY 3 – Explore Iceland’s south shore and the waterfalls at Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss

Today we have a packed day exploring the best of southern Iceland.

This morning we drive through the Eyjafjallajokull region, where in 2010 a volcanic eruption caused the now infamous ash cloud, disrupting worldwide air travel for several days. The volcano is now quiet again and your local Leader will be able to talk about the impact the eruption had on the local community.

We’ll spend time at Vik I Myrdal, a rocky beach with its incredible basalt cliffs which are said to have inspired the church we visited yesterday. The beach is often incredibly windy and there are great photo opportunities of the waves crashing against the cliffs.

After some lunch we’ll see one of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls, Skogafoss. Standing at 62 metres tall it’s an impressive sight, and if we are lucky with the light we should spot rainbows in the spray. We’ll also stop at the Lava Museum to learn about the geology that formed the country’s dramatic landscapes.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall is almost as tall as Skogafoss but, weather permitting, we’ll have the chance to walk behind the curtain of water! The pathway shows off the falls from the front, circling around the back and emerging on the other side. Because of the constant spray the path is always slippy and can be closed in winter when the path freezes over.

We’ll make our way back to our hotel for the evening to relax and look out for the Northern Lights.

ACCOMMODATION:

Hotel Gullfoss (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

MEALS PROVIDED: BREAKFAST

DAY 4 – Discover the highlights of the Golden Circle: Gullfoss waterfalls and Strokkur Geysir

Today we explore the famous Golden Circle, which includes some of Iceland’s most iconic sights.

Our hotel is the ideal base from which to visit the magnificent Gullfoss waterfalls which is known locally as the ‘Golden Waterfall’, due to the way it cascades into a deep gorge with tremendous force. They may be biased but locals regard it as one of the most beautiful falls in the world!

Close by is Haukadalur, home of the Great Geysir. With the claim-to-fame of being the first spouting spring known to Europeans, Geysir has given all such springs their name. However, it is the Strokkur, meaning ‘The Butter Churn’, which is the main attraction, due to its impressive 30 metre eruptions every few minutes. There will be an optional visit to the Secret Lagoon.

We return to Reykjavik this afternoon. The food scene in Reykjavik is impressive and this evening is free for a final dinner in one of the capital’s many restaurants.

ACCOMMODATION:

Hotel Klettur (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

MEALS PROVIDED: BREAKFAST

DAY 5 – Trip ends in Reykjavik

Our trip ends after breakfast this morning. The transfer back to Keflavik airport (KEF) will be on the public FlyBus shuttle bus service and your leader will provide you with the details of your pick up time and with your voucher for this service.

Please note: The itinerary for this tour is subject to amendment due to weather or road conditions. Winter is a beautiful time to visit Iceland, but the weather can be unpredictable and snow can have a big impact on travel times. Consequently, it may be necessary to alter the order of the itinerary or to change inclusions whilst on tour.

MEALS PROVIDED: BREAKFAST

Iceland – Climate

Iceland has a cool and temperate climate and, despite its location just south of the Arctic Circle, its northerly latitude is counteracted by the warm waters of the North Atlantic Drift which encircles the island. Temperatures in winter can fluctuate between about 10°C and -10°C and precipitation in the form of rain, sleet or snow is to be expected at any time. Days will be short, with daylight often only guaranteed between about 11 am and 4 pm in December. The best time for seeing the Aurora Borealis is October to March. Summer is generally cool with average temperatures for June and July around 12 – 15 degree centigrade in Reykjavik, although is known to be warmer in other parts of the country. In June and July you can enjoy continuous daylight and see the Midnight Sun, whilst late spring and early autumn offer long twilights.